First I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Afra the sum of twenty pounds of lawful money of
England and also the use or interest of thirty pounds more of like money during her natural life.
Also I give unto my said wife one feather bed two feather bolsters one feather pillow two
blankets one rug or coverlid one bed steddle(?) one suite of curtains and valance with curtain
rods rope and mat thereunto belonging and three pairs of sheets two pillows two table cloths
six napkins and two towels the chest which was hers at the time of our intermarriage and
other chest two ? the cast iron pot and the ? pot in the skillet and the cupboard or safe that
stands in the hall.
And my will and desire is that my said wife shall make choice of the
aforesaid goods and household stuff out of all my goods and household stuff at her will and
pleasure pertain(?) the same to her own use.
Item I give and bequeath unto my grand children
Elizabeth Michael John and Mary Denne children of my daughter Alice Den the sum of five
pounds apiece.
Item I give and bequeath unto my said grandchild Michael Den the sum of
five pounds more of lawful money of England all which to be placed out at interest on good
security such as my said daughter Alice and my loving friend Joseph Webb of the City of
Canterbury Gent shall approve of from time to time during the minority of my said grand
children by my Executors hereafter named within one year next after my decease in the names
of my said grand children and the interest thereof to be paid to my said daughter Alice during
their respective minorities and her receipts shall be sufficient discharges for the same.
And if any of my said grandchildren shall happen to die before he she or they attain to the full age of
one and twenty years then I give the portion or portions of her him or them so dying to the
survivor or survivors of them to be equally divided between them.
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Denne the sum of thirty pounds to be placed out on good security at interest during the life of my said wife and the interest thereof to be paid to my said wife as above mentioned during her natural life and the said thirty pounds to be paid to my said daughter Elizabeth immediately after my said wife�s decease.
Item all the residue and remainder of my estate whatsoever not hereinbefore given and bequeathed I give and bequeath unto my daughters Alice and Elizabeth to be equally divided between them.
And I do hereby make ordain and constitute my said loving wife Afra and my son in law David Den
Executors of this my will.
Provided always that if my said wife shall to marry again then if
such husband or husbands as she shall so marry with shall not give sufficient security to my
said daughter Elizabeth such as my said son and Executor and my said friend Joseph Webb
shall approve of within one month next after such intermarriage that my said daughter
Elizabeth shall enjoy and receive her half part of my estate before herein given unto her at her
age of one and twenty years and the said sum of thirty pounds immediately after my said
wife�s decease and to maintain and educate my said daughter Elizabeth until she attains her
age of one and twenty years then the legacies herein before given to my said wife shall cease
and be utterly void.
And I give unto my said daughter Elizabeth all the aforesaid legacies so
given to my said wife anything herein contained to the contrary thereof in any wise
notwithstanding.
Provided also that my said wife Afra shall have the use and profit of the
moiety or half part of my estate before herein given and bequeathed unto my said daughter
Elizabeth until my said daughter Elizabeth shall attain her age of one and twenty years she my
said wife keeping herself sole or the husband or husbands which she shall marry with giving
such sufficient security as herein before is mentioned and expressed that my said daughter
Elizabeth shall have and receive the legacies hereby given her at her said age and be
maintained and educated as before is mentioned.
And I do hereby will and appoint that my
debts funeral charges and the probate of this my will shall be allowed and paid out of all my
personal estate with all convenient speed next after my decease. And the residue thereof to be
then forthwith divided as before herein is mentioned and expressed. Thus having settled my
worldly estate I wholly commend my Soul to Almighty God waiting with patience until he
shall please to call me out of this transitory life and translate me into his everlasting Kingdom
of Glory. In witness whereof to this my present last Will and Testament contained in two
sheets of paper I have to either of the said sheets set my hand and of the first annexed my seal
the fifth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred seventy and nine.
Michael Denne. Signed sealed published and declared by the said Michael Denne the Testator
to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of
Paul Horwood, Jane Webb, Joseph Webb.
Memorand that I the aforesaid Michael Denne do hereby further give and bequeath unto my
said daughter Elizabeth Denne my silver bowl or cup and to my sisters Elizabeth Billinghurst
and Anne Denne to each of them twenty shillings of lawful money of England to be paid unto
them by my said Executors within two months next after my decease. And this I declare to be
annexed to and made part of my will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
seal this seventh day of October Ano Domini 1680. Michael Denne. Signed sealed and
published in the presence of
George Knott, Joseph Webb
Probatum 1680
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Michael Denne